Master of Data Science Salary in Australia 2026 — Jobs & Pay Guide
Master of Data Science salary in Australia 2026 — starting pay by role and city, top employers, Subclass 485 work rights, and PR pathway for graduates.
Updated: 2026-04-01
Quick Answer
Master of Data Science graduates in Australia earn AUD 80,000–110,000 in their first role. Data Science is on Australia's Skills Priority List, enabling a structured skilled migration pathway to permanent residency.
Key Highlights
- Data Scientist: AUD 85,000–105,000/year in Sydney/Melbourne (mid-size tech, banking, consulting)
- Machine Learning Engineer: AUD 95,000–120,000/year at Australian tech companies (Atlassian, Canva, WiseTech, REA Group)
- Data Analyst: AUD 65,000–85,000/year — wider availability; strong entry point into Australian DS career
- AI/ML Research: AUD 100,000–130,000 at CSIRO Data61, AWS Sydney, Google Sydney, Microsoft Azure AI
- City comparison: Sydney and Melbourne lead; Canberra (government analytics) pays well with strong stability
Data Science Starting Salary in Australia — By Role (2026)
First-year compensation for DS graduates:
- Data Scientist: AUD 85,000–105,000/year in Sydney/Melbourne (mid-size tech, banking, consulting)
- Machine Learning Engineer: AUD 95,000–120,000/year at Australian tech companies (Atlassian, Canva, WiseTech, REA Group)
- Data Analyst: AUD 65,000–85,000/year — wider availability; strong entry point into Australian DS career
- AI/ML Research: AUD 100,000–130,000 at CSIRO Data61, AWS Sydney, Google Sydney, Microsoft Azure AI
- City comparison: Sydney and Melbourne lead; Canberra (government analytics) pays well with strong stability
Subclass 485, Skilled Migration, and PR for DS Graduates
Post-study work and PR pathway:
- Subclass 485: 2-year post-study work visa; full work rights; apply within 6 months of graduation
- Regional study bonus: ANU (Canberra) or Adelaide, Tasmania — get 3–5 years on 485 instead of 2
- SkillSelect: Data Scientist (ANZSCO 2631112) on Skills Priority List — eligible for Subclass 189 and 190 PR
- Skills Assessment: ACS (Australian Computer Society) assesses DS qualifications for skilled migration
- Subclass 190 State Nomination: Victorian, NSW, Queensland, and SA nominations available for experienced DS professionals
- Timeline: Graduate → Subclass 485 (2 years work) → 60 SkillSelect points → invite → PR grant
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Written & reviewed by
Rahul SharmaHead of Admissions — USA & Canada Specialist
Frequently Asked Questions
AUD 85,000–100,000 for Data Scientist/ML roles in Sydney and Melbourne. Senior roles after 3+ years Australian experience: AUD 120,000–150,000. Atlassian, Canva, and Afterpay are among top-paying Australian tech employers for DS roles.
Yes — Data Scientist and Machine Learning Engineer are on Australia's Skills Priority List. With 2 years of Subclass 485 work experience, a positive ACS skills assessment, IELTS 6.0+ (or equivalent), and 60+ SkillSelect points, you can receive an invitation for Subclass 189 or 190 PR.
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